Improvement in shoe-fastenings



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

CHARLES GOLDTHWAIT, OF SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,649, dated March 11, i873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GOLDTHWAIT, of South Weymonth, of the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoes; and do hereby declare the same to be fully described in thefollowin g specification and represented in the accompanying drawing, of which- Y Figure l is a t p view of a shoe or slipper provided with my invention. Fig. 2 represents it in top view, and' Fig. 3 in elevation as applied to a foot. A

The object of 'the invention is to enable a person to readily fasten a slipper or shoe upon the foot, especially so as to hold such shoe up at the heel and across the instep of the foot.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a strap, lacing, or band, A, having a button, B, fixed or tied to it near one end of it; and I provide the shoe 0, on the inner surface and middle of its heel, with a fiat'loop, a, andon the inner side of o'ne'of the quarters with another loop, 12, or a suitable means of fastening or fixing to the quarter the band A at one end, which band I usually form with a knot at such end. The band so provided with a knot I pass upward through the loop 11 until stopped by the knot. If preferable, the band may be otherwise fastened or be sewed to the quarter.

. This having been done, I pass the band through the heel-loop a in a direction toward the loop or fastening b. In the other quarter of the shoe, and opposite the fastening b, I make a button-hole, 0.

In putting the shoe upon the foot of a person the foot is to be inserted through the loop of the band, which is between the fastening b and the heel-loop a, and after the foot has fully entered the shoe the band is to be drawn closely, so as to go across the instep obliquely. The band is next to be drawn around across the instep in the opposite direction, diagonally, and the button (previously adj usted to and tied in the proper position on the band) is to be inserted through the button-hole.

Instead of a button and button-hole, as de-' scribed, a buckle or a hook and eye may be substituted.

' The band applied or fixed to the shoe at one of the quarters thereof, and extended through a loop at the heel in manner as described, and provided with a button to engage with a hole in the other quarter, all being substantially as shown and described, enables the shoe to be expeditiously and easily secured upon the foot, and holds it up at the heel so as to prevent the foot from rising at the heel without at the same time correspondingly raising the heel part of the shoe.

I claim- The shoe as provided with the loop a at the heel, and with the band A fixed to one of the quarters and extended through the said loop a, as set forth, and-having means of fastening it to the other quarter, whether such means be a button, B, and button-hole 0, arranged with the band and quarter as explained, or any.

other suitable device or devices, all being essentially as and for the purpose or objects as specified.

CHARLES GOLDTHWAIT.

'Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. R. Snow. 

